Glossary of Medical Terms

A drug used to treat high blood levels of uric acid in patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and other types of cancer who are receiving certain types of cancer treatment. It is also being studied in the treatment of other medical conditions. Elitek is a type of recombinant enzyme and a type of urate-lowering drug. Also called rasburicase and recombinant urate oxidase.

A drug used with other drugs to treat breast cancer that was removed by surgery. It is used in patients whose cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Ellence blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair, and it may kill cancer cells. It is a type of anthracycline antibiotic and a type of topoisomerase inhibitor. Also called epirubicin hydrochloride.

A drug that is used in a cream to treat certain skin conditions and in a nasal spray to treat sinus problems caused by allergies. It is being studied as a way to treat inflammation of the skin caused by radiation therapy. Elocon is a type of corticosteroid. Also called mometasone furoate and Nasonex.

A drug used with dexamethasone and either lenalidomide or pomalidomide to treat adults with multiple myeloma. It is used in patients whose cancer was already treated with other anticancer therapies. Elotuzumab binds to a protein called CS1, which is found on myeloma cells and some types of immune cells. Elotuzumab may block CS1 and help the immune system kill cancer cells. It is a type of monoclonal antibody. Also called Empliciti and HuLuc63.

A drug used with other drugs to treat stage III colon cancer that was removed by surgery and colorectal cancer that is advanced. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Eloxatin damages the cell’s DNA and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of platinum compound. Also called oxaliplatin.

A drug that is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is being studied in the treatment of some other types of cancer. It is an enzyme taken from the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). It breaks down the amino acid asparagine and may block the growth of tumor cells that need asparagine to grow. Also called asparaginase and L-asparaginase.

A drug used to treat thrombocytopenia (a lower-than-normal number of platelets in the blood) in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (a condition in which platelets are destroyed by the immune system). It is used in patients who did not get better with corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, or surgery to remove the spleen. Eltrombopag olamine is also used to treat severe aplastic anemia. It is also being studied in the treatment of other conditions and types of cancer. Eltrombopag olamine causes more platelets to be made in the bone marrow. It is a type of thrombopoietin receptor agonist. Also called Promacta.

A drug used to treat a rare blood cancer called blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Elzonris is made up of interleukin-3 (IL-3), which binds to an IL-3 receptor protein called CD123. CD123 may be found in higher than normal amounts on some types of cancer cells. Elzonris is also made up of a diphtheria toxin, which may help kill cancer cells. Elzonris is a type of cytotoxin. Also called tagraxofusp.

A substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. It blocks proteins needed for cancer growth. It is a type of transcriptional inhibitor. Also called tetra-O-methyl NDGA and tetra-O-methyl nordihydroguaiaretic acid.

A drug used to treat a rare immune system disorder called primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). It is used in patients whose disease came back, got worse, did not get better, or cannot be treated with other therapy. It is also being studied in the treatment of other conditions. Emapalumab binds to an immune system protein called interferon gamma, which is found at higher than normal levels in patients with HLH. This may help lower the body’s immune response and reduce inflammation. Emapalumab is a type of monoclonal antibody. Also called Gamifant.